By Ayodele Oni
The first runner-up in the just concluded governorship election in Ekiti state, Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party, SDP) has challenged the winner as declared by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
This was contained in a 1,095-page petition filed before the Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal.
Oni said he’s challenging the election outcome at the tribunal in view of the fact that he defeated the APC candidate who was declared winner by INEC.
Oni, who spoke to journalists at the tribunal shortly after his legal team submitted the petition, said, “I’m here to submit my petition in accordance with the law and we are doing this to defend the sanctity of the system. I am challenging the election result because I believe that I won.”
It would be recalled that the SDP candidate said last week that he would not congratulate Oyebanji because he did not believe he won the June I8 election.
But INEC had declared Oyebanji winner having polled 187,057 votes against Oni who scored 82,209 votes to come second among the 16 candidates that participated in the election.
Chief Oni was accompanied to the secretariat of the Election Petitions Tribunal, in Ado Ekiti, by his counsel, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, and Morakinyo Ogele.
Others who accompanied the SDP candidate include Dipo Anisulowo, the Director General of his campaign organization, and Dare Bejide.
Meanwhile, the Governor-elect has continued his bridge building mission by visiting the People’s Democratic Party, PDP candidate in the election, Bisi Kolawole.
The PDP candidate has now declared his support for Oyebanji.
Speaking when he received Oyebanji at his Ado- Ekiti resident, Kolawole said the fact that he contested against Oyebanji in the election did not mean that they should remain as enemies.
“Until June 18, we were candidates of two different parties but one of us, another respected Ekiti man won the election. In the interest of the state and our people, we must all rally round him, offer necessary advice and move Ekiti forward.
“It is my pleasure having you here. I am happy that you are being magnanimous in victory. It is only God that appoints a king and gives victory to whom he wishes.
“Being from different political parties should not disturb us from working together. This is all about Ekiti and Ekiti is bigger than any political party”
Recall that Oyebanji had last month visited Ekiti State strongman and former Governor Ayodele Fayose in his Lagos residence to seek his support for his incoming government, amongst other notable political and traditional leaders in the state.
